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“Why are we here today?” María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, asked the crowd assembled for the Southern California Worker Health and Safety Conference. “We’re here because we have an epidemic before us."

McDonald’s is now responsible for labor law violations committed in its restaurants — even if the store is owned by a franchisee. That’s the essence of a finding this week by the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, which stems from strikes by fast food workers for higher wages, and allegations of firings and other illegal retaliation.

For an increasing number of American workers, it's a hard question to answer. To cut costs and avoid liability, more companies are hiring workers on a temporary or contract basis. More than 17 million people, 12 percent of the U.S. workforce, are now employed as temps, contract or freelance workers.

On Monday, June 23rd, Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, joined four teen peer educators in a telephone press conference to kick off Teens Lead at Work for 2014. The program, originated by Massachusetts Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) in 2002, is now a national effort to help young workers recognize – and avoid – the hazards of workplace violence.

On May 19th, 59-year-old construction worker Okesene Faasalele was working to demolish a railroad bridge spanning California’s 91 Freeway. The section of the bridge he was harnessd to buckled, swinging him to the highway lanes below. Struck by metal debris, Faasalele did not survive the fall.

Around the world last week, people came together to observe Workers’ Memorial Week (WMW) with vigils, ceremonies, marches, meals, and music. Tales of loss and remembrance echoed from community to community – along with a renewed dedication to action.